Research themes
Research at the Department of Computer Science is classified into eight broad themes.
Within (and across) themes, research is conducted by teams of people, or individually, as best suits the staff, the topic, and the funding. If the research has a specific target, or an end-date, then it is presented here as a project; otherwise, it is presented as an activity.
The Department's research activity was evaluated in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise ( RAE2008), published in December 2008. 80% of the submitted researchers were found to be in the top two tiers, either 4* (world-leading) or 3* (internationally excellent). A more detailed analysis is available.
Algorithms
The newly established Algorithms Group deals with fundamental issues of computational complexity such as the “NP=P?” problem, and the design and analysis of classical, randomised, and online algorithms for highly relevant problems in areas such as constraint satisfaction, algorithmic game theory, computational mathematics, computational biology, formal logic, verification, quantum computing, database theory, artificial intelligence and others. Given that algorithms and complexity issues are fundamental to nearly every area of Computer Science, the Algorithms Group collaborates intensively with many other groups in the Department, investigating concrete problems arising in their respective research.
Automated Verification
Research stretches from the fundamental investigations into the decidability and complexity of model checking for infinite-state systems, through process calculi, logics and semantic models, to practical, machine-assisted methods applicable to real-world problems and programming languages. Strengths include concurrency, abstraction, industrial-scale hardware verification, software model checking, and verification of real-time and probabilistic systems, with applications in security protocols, power management, nanotechnology, and biology.
Computational Biology
Using computer science and mathematical techniques to solve pressing issues in the field of biomedical science. For example creating accurate computerised models of the human body and biomedical imaging.
Foundations, Logic and Structures
Research into the mathematical underpinnings of computer science and their application in a variety of different areas. For example, Quantum Computing, game semantics, and verification.
Information Systems
Includes research related to databases (including query languages and lightweight applications for mobile devices), knowledge representation and reasoning (including ontology languages, reasoning systems and applications in areas such as e-Science and the Semantic Web), and artificial intelligence (including computational linguistics, spatial reasoning and multiagent systems).
Programming Languages
Our work concerns programming language design and implementation, covering both programming tools, and the algebra of programming.
Security
Allowing people to use information technology confidently, free of the danger of their privacy being breached or the actions they are performing being frustrated or subverted by an unauthorised intruder. Preventing the unauthorised use of hardware, software and the Internet and detecting attempts to break into systems. This theme is closely linked to Oxford's Cybersecurity Centre.
Software Engineering
Our research into developing software systems addresses every stage of the development process, from requirements analysis to the maintenance of existing implementations. Areas of particular interest include information modelling, requirements engineering, model-based development, research informatics, systems security, and sensor networks.
